Jesus, Adultery, and Forgiveness
by Hugh DeLong
One of the favorite stories about Jesus is found here in John 8. Elsewhere I have written a short article concerning whether this should be included in our Bibles, but my bottom-line conclusion is that it fairly demonstrates the teaching of the rest of the New Testament and the character of Jesus. It adds nothing new and different, nor does it contradict our understanding of Jesus. So, let us look at it again.
The Problem:
"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act'" (John 8:3-4).
"If there is a man who commits adultery with another man's wife, one who commits adultery with his friend's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death" (Leviticus 20:10).
"If a man is found lying with a married woman, then both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel" (Deuteronomy 22:22).
Jesus’ Response:
"She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more'" (John 8:11).
How did Jesus deal with such immorality? He was compassionate in how he dealt with her. In saying 'neither do I condemn you,' he apparently forgave her, which he indeed had power on earth to do so (cp. Mathew 9:6; Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24). Yet, he didn't just overlook it and tolerate an ongoing adulterous lifestyle, for he also said, "go, and sin no more." As we apply his example, we have similar instructions concerning immoral behavior.
"Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4).
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (I Corinthians 6:9-11).
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds" (Revelation 2:20-22).
"It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst" (I Corinthians 5:1-2).
So, how do we balance these situations?
- We must apply such moral teaching fairly and without partiality.
- We must reprove and correct such sinful actions.
- We must forgive those who repent and turn from such works of the flesh.
- We must then accept them, comfort them, strengthen them, and help them.
Let us pray that we can handle such with both the compassion and moral integrity that Jesus displayed.
